Signatories include: Diane Abbott MP • Richard Burgon MP • Len McCluskey, Unite General Secretary • Kevin Courtney, NEU Joint Gen Sec • Mark Serwotka, PCS Gen Sec • Dave Ward, CWU Gen Sec • Manuel Cortes, TSSA Gen Sec • Mick Whelan, ASLEF Gen Sec • Ian Hodson, BFAWU National President • Jane Loftus, CWU Vice President • Mohammed Kozbar, Finsbury Park Mosque • David Rosenberg, Jewish Socialist Group • Rev Steven Saxby • Maz Saleem, Stand Up To Trump • Dilowar Khan (Director of Finance and Engagement East London Mosque).
FACEBOOK EVENT FOR STAND UP TO RACISM PROTEST HERE
The racist and fascist right is getting ready to march next Saturday in Central London in support of jailed ex-English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson.
Robinson and his supporters have been attempting to build the kind of mass far right street movements that are a fact of political life across much of Europe.
They have been using Islamophobia as a central tool to build up support, particularly in the wake of the London and Manchester attacks.
But they are also threatening all migrants, Labour Party supporters and anti- racists.
The last year has seen the growth of the Football Lads Alliance (FLA) and the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA).
They have brought thousands onto the streets. Increasingly they have been linked both to UKIP and also to Tommy Robinson and the fascist right.
They have gone from saying they reject Robinson to putting him at the centre of their mobilisation.
Last week we saw a violent street protest in Leeds in defence of Robinson following his imprisonment.
The protestors were chanting ‘Muslims off our streets’.
A demonstration has been called this Saturday for Robinson’s release that is set to see thousands of racists and far right activists on the streets.
It has the potential to gather the kind of forces we saw gathered at Charlottesville in the US a year ago.
We believe we cannot allow Robinson, a violent racist, to become the focus for a new far right street movement.
We support the counter demonstration initiated by Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism on the day.